Hacker who helped feds gets no more time in prison

Hector Xavier Monsegur, flanked by members of his legal team, arrives at court in New York for a sentencing hearing Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Monsegur, a prolific computer hacker who infiltrated the servers of major corporations, later switched sides to helped the U.S. government disrupt hundreds of cyberattacks on Congress, NASA and other sensitive targets, according to federal prosecutors. After his arrest and guilty plea in 2011, he faced more than two decades behind bars. But because...

NEW YORK (AP) — An admitted computer hacker who helped the FBI thwart hundreds of cyberattacks on government and corporate computer systems will get no more prison time.

Hector Xavier Monsegur (HAH'-vee-ehr MAHN'-see-gur) was sentenced Tuesday in Manhattan to the time he already served — seven months.

Prosecutors also have credited Monsegur with helping cripple the group of so-called hacktivists known as Anonymous.

Monsegur once led an Anonymous splinter group that stole information from Fox television, Nintendo and other businesses.

Advertisement

Prosecutors say when FBI agents showed up at his Manhattan home in 2011, he immediately agreed to cooperate in a widespread hacking investigation.

Prosecutors say the Anonymous movement vilified Monsegur on the Internet for his cooperation. The threats became so severe he had to relocate.